New Seasons Market
A Pacific Northwest neighborhood grocery chain emphasizing natural, organic, local, and community-oriented food retail.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
New Seasons Market is a privately held American supermarket chain based in Portland, Oregon. It operates neighborhood grocery stores concentrated in the Portland metropolitan area and southwestern Washington, serving communities including Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Tualatin, Happy Valley, and Vancouver. The chain combines conventional supermarket merchandise with a strong emphasis on natural foods, organic products, Pacific Northwest suppliers, prepared foods, fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery items, and community-oriented store programs. The company was established in 1999 in Portland’s Raleigh Hills neighborhood by three local families together with approximately 50 friends. Its operating model was built around relatively small neighborhood stores, regional sourcing, employee participation, and a stated commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Growth was rapid during its first decade: by 2008 the company had nine stores and about 1,800 employees, and by late 2013 it had reached 15 stores and roughly 3,000 employees. New Seasons became the first grocery retailer to receive B Corporation certification in 2013. It was recertified in 2015 and 2017, although the company’s certification and ownership structure later became subjects of public criticism. In 2013, private-equity firm Endeavour Capital acquired a majority position and invested $17.5 million according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. That year New Seasons also acquired California-based New Leaf Community Markets. The California expansion did not perform as planned, and New Leaf locations later separated from the New Seasons relationship or were transferred within the Good Food Holdings portfolio. In 2019, Endeavour announced the sale of New Seasons to Good Food Holdings, a West Coast grocery subsidiary of South Korean retail conglomerate Emart. The transaction closed in early 2020. The new ownership retained the company’s B Corporation identity and stated its intention to maintain community giving and regional food-economy programs, while ending or suspending several expansion plans. The Ballard, Seattle store was closed, and the Mercer Island location was converted to a Metropolitan Market store, another Good Food Holdings brand. New Leaf Community Markets was also handled separately within the acquiring group. The chain’s public identity has been shaped by both its community positioning and criticism over neighborhood change, ownership ties, labor relations, and the practical meaning of its B Corporation commitments. Some residents and community organizations have argued that New Seasons stores can accelerate gentrification in historically Black or working-class neighborhoods by attracting higher-income consumers and contributing to rising property values and rents. Activists also questioned the company’s indirect connection, through Endeavour Capital, to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, which has supported organizations opposed by some LGBTQ advocates. New Seasons said that the trust’s activities did not determine the grocer’s operations. Employee organizing became especially prominent from 2017 onward and intensified in 2022. Workers cited changes in workplace culture, business ethics, and conditions after the private-equity investment. Organizing efforts involved both the independent New Seasons Labor Union and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555. Several stores voted on union representation, with some campaigns succeeding and others failing. The National Labor Relations Board later found merit in unfair-labor-practice allegations concerning anti-union conduct at the Orenco Station store. A rerun election in February 2024 again rejected UFCW representation there. Despite the disputes, New Seasons has continued operating as an active regional grocer, with approximately 22 stores in the greater Portland–Vancouver area according to the cited reference material.
History
New Seasons Market began in 1999 in Portland’s Raleigh Hills neighborhood. The business was created by three local families and approximately 50 friends, reflecting a community-based alternative to large national supermarket chains. Its stores combined everyday grocery products with natural and organic foods, local sourcing, fresh departments, prepared meals, and neighborhood-oriented programs. The chain expanded across the Portland area during the 2000s. By 2008 it had nine stores and approximately 1,800 employees. By November 2013 it had 15 stores and about 3,000 employees. In June 2013, it became the first grocery store described in the reference material to obtain B Corporation certification. The certification supported the company’s public emphasis on social responsibility, environmental performance, employee practices, and community benefit. Ownership changed substantially in 2013. Endeavour Capital became the majority owner and invested $17.5 million, according to SEC filings cited by the source material. New Seasons also bought California-based New Leaf Community Markets, with New Leaf founder Scott Roseman joining the New Seasons board. The California expansion later encountered difficulties. In 2018, two California stores ended their franchise relationship with New Seasons, and CEO Wendy Collie departed amid the failed expansion and an employee organizing effort. The company’s ownership ties became controversial. LGBTQ advocates and the Northwest Accountability Project criticized Endeavour’s relationship with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, an investor in an Endeavour fund that held a stake in New Seasons. Critics objected to donations associated with organizations whose positions they viewed as harmful to LGBTQ people and other communities. New Seasons maintained that the trust’s activities did not control the grocer’s operations. Employees and the Northwest Accountability Project also asked B Lab to review the company’s B Corporation certification in 2017, citing ownership and labor concerns. New Seasons has also faced debate over its role in neighborhood redevelopment. The opening of stores in North Williams and St. Johns in Portland prompted concerns that the chain could contribute to gentrification in historically Black and working-class areas. Similar concerns arose around proposed or existing locations in Seattle and Mercer Island. Critics argued that the stores might primarily serve incoming higher-income residents and contribute to rising housing costs. The controversy illustrated the tension between the brand’s community-oriented identity and the economic effects associated with retail investment in changing neighborhoods. In December 2019, Endeavour announced the sale of New Seasons to Good Food Holdings, a subsidiary of South Korean retail conglomerate Emart. The transaction was completed in early 2020. Good Food Holdings retained CEO Forrest Hoffmaster for a period, later closed the Ballard store in Seattle, converted the Mercer Island store to Metropolitan Market, and treated New Leaf Community Markets as a separate subsidiary. The company also reiterated its B Corporation commitments and its intention to donate 10 percent of after-tax profits to local communities. A mission advisory council was created to advise the board and leadership on continuity of the company’s social and community benefit. Labor relations became a central issue after the ownership transition. In 2017, Portland employees formed New Seasons Workers United and publicly sought improvements in working conditions. The company retained outside labor counsel, and the campaign generated allegations of retaliation; charges involving two dismissed employees were later dismissed. In 2022, organizing resumed at multiple Portland-area stores. Employees organized through both the independent New Seasons Labor Union and UFCW Local 555. Seven Corners became the first store to vote for union representation, while several other locations also voted in favor and others rejected unionization. The National Labor Relations Board charged the company in January 2023 after complaints alleged retaliation and threats involving employee benefits. A rerun election at Orenco Station in February 2024 again rejected UFCW representation. The labor campaign continued to shape public discussion of whether New Seasons’ progressive brand positioning was consistent with its workplace practices. As of the cited material, the company remained an active regional chain operating about 22 stores in the greater Portland and Vancouver metropolitan area.
- 2024
Orenco Station rerun election
[1]Workers again voted against UFCW Local 555 representation after a settlement and rerun election.
- 2022
Multi-store union campaign begins
[1]Employees at Portland-area stores initiated organizing campaigns involving the New Seasons Labor Union and UFCW Local 555.
- 2020
Good Food Holdings transaction completed
[1]The acquisition closed and the chain’s portfolio and expansion plans were reorganized.
- 2019
Sale to Good Food Holdings announced
[1]Endeavour Capital announced the sale of New Seasons Market to Good Food Holdings, an Emart subsidiary.
- 2017
B Corporation certification review requested
[1]Employees and the Northwest Accountability Project asked B Lab to review the company’s certification in light of ownership and labor concerns.
- 2013
B Corporation certification and ownership investment
[1]New Seasons became the first grocery store cited as receiving B Corporation certification, while Endeavour Capital acquired a majority position and invested in the company.
- 2013
Acquisition of New Leaf Community Markets
[1]New Seasons acquired the California grocery chain New Leaf Community Markets.
- 2008
Reaches nine stores
[1]The chain had grown to nine stores and approximately 1,800 employees.
- 1999
Company founded in Portland
[1]New Seasons Market was established in Portland’s Raleigh Hills neighborhood by three families and approximately 50 friends.
Products and positioning
A community-focused neighborhood supermarket combining conventional grocery retail with natural, organic, locally sourced, and prepared-food offerings.
Grocery
Natural and organic groceries
A major part of the chain’s identity is its selection of natural and organic food, including packaged goods, produce, dairy, meat, and other supermarket categories. The stores also carry conventional groceries rather than limiting their assortment to specialty products.
Fresh grocery
Fresh foods
New Seasons stores offer fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery products, prepared foods, and other perishable departments. These departments support the company’s neighborhood-supermarket format and its emphasis on regional and local food suppliers.
Local sourcing
Pacific Northwest local products
The chain carries products made or grown by suppliers in the Pacific Northwest. Local sourcing is presented as part of its regional food-economy mission and differentiates the stores from purely national supermarket formats.
Controversies
2023
Unfair-labor-practice allegations
The NLRB charged New Seasons in relation to allegations that the company threatened benefit changes and otherwise interfered with organizing activity. The company disputed the findings.
2021
New Seasons Market sues Oregon Country Beef over contaminated beef costs
New Seasons Market filed a $2.7 million lawsuit against Country Natural Beef, doing business as Oregon Country Beef, accusing it of negligence over beef allegedly contaminated with E. coli in 2019. The suit seeks recovery of costs including refunds, cleaning, recall and investigation expenses.
2017
B Corporation certification and Murdock Trust controversy
Activists questioned whether the company’s indirect financial relationship with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust was compatible with its B Corporation commitments and asked B Lab to review its certification.
2017
Gentrification criticism
Residents and community groups criticized the company’s presence in historically Black and working-class neighborhoods, arguing that new stores could intensify gentrification.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Employee unionization campaigns
Portland metropolitan area
Workers at multiple stores organized through independent and UFCW-backed campaigns, citing workplace culture, ethics, and employment conditions.
- 2021Recycling Modernization Act advocacy
Oregon
Company representatives engaged Oregon legislators in support of legislation intended to reduce plastic pollution and improve materials management.
- 2020Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment
Pacific Coast
New Seasons participated in a voluntary regional commitment by food businesses to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2030.
- 2018Portland affordable-housing and immigration measures
Oregon
The company supported Portland-area affordable-housing Measure 26–199 and opposed Measure 105, which sought to repeal Oregon’s limits on state and local participation in federal immigration enforcement.
- 2015Oregon minimum-wage advocacy
Oregon
New Seasons supported raising Oregon’s minimum wage and testified during state Senate hearings.
- 2014Oregon Right to Know
Oregon
New Seasons publicly supported Oregon’s campaign for GMO labeling and continued advocating for non-GMO labeling and certification.
- 2014Oregon United for Marriage
Oregon
The company publicly endorsed the marriage-equality campaign in Oregon.
Brand decisions
2022
Respond to renewed union organizingStrategyBackground
Employees at several Portland-area stores began seeking representation through independent and UFCW-affiliated campaigns.
Action taken
New Seasons retained Ogletree Deakins and communicated its position that collaboration with employees was preferable to union representation.
Aftermath
Multiple stores held elections, several organized, and the NLRB later charged the company over alleged unfair labor practices.
2019
Sell the company to Good Food HoldingsM&ABackground
Endeavour Capital decided to exit its majority ownership after several years of private-equity control and an unsuccessful California expansion.
Action taken
Endeavour announced the sale of New Seasons Market to Good Food Holdings, an Emart subsidiary; closing occurred in early 2020.
Aftermath
The new owner retained the B Corporation identity, halted existing expansion plans, closed Ballard, and converted Mercer Island to Metropolitan Market.
2013
Acquire New Leaf Community MarketsM&ABackground
New Seasons sought to expand beyond Oregon and entered California through the purchase of an established regional natural-foods grocer.
Action taken
The company purchased New Leaf Community Markets and added founder Scott Roseman to its board.
Aftermath
The California expansion later faltered, and the New Leaf relationship was subsequently separated within the Good Food Holdings portfolio.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
New Seasons Market sues Oregon Country Beef over contaminated beef costs[2]
Reported:
New Seasons Market filed a $2.7 million lawsuit against Country Natural Beef, doing business as Oregon Country Beef, accusing it of negligence over beef allegedly contaminated with E. coli in 2019. The suit seeks recovery of costs including refunds, cleaning, recall and investigation expenses.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/new-seasons-market · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled